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Shell’s heart squeezed at the sight of the girl She’d appeared at the diner a few days ago asking for a job Since she was only thirteen and under the legal working age in Tennessee, Toni’s hands were tied But of course, Shell’s coirl without officially hiring her She’d given her s napkin holders, and after each task had been coirl a meal and a little bit of cash

Shell’s first thought was that the girl was a runaway and the authorities should be contacted Toni had been reluctant but eventually agreed to call the sheriff’s department Before they’d had the chance to place that call, Lindsey had sworn up, down, and backward she did not run away froed them not to call the police

Toni seemed to believe that about asa home liardless of Lindsey’s wishes If it turned out the girl wasn’t lying, the cops would most likely call in child protective services, which wasn’t always a good thing They needed more information before they acted, but details about herself were not so Lindsey dished out

“You all finished with the trash?” Toni asked softly when it becaain Due to a rough past of her own, Toni had a soft spot for all troubled teenagers, but this girl seemed to have wormed her way into Toni’s heart more than most

“Yes, lanced up from where her tattered sneaker rubbed at a small scuff on the tiled floor

“Oh no, ma’am is even worse than miss Just Toni Please”

Lindsey nodded without looking up She seemed as taken with Toni as Toni ith her, but she shut dohen in a group Or around ns of physical abuse, but she certainly had the skittish nature of someone who’d been mistreated

“Well, thank you for coain today, Lindsey You really saved et so a few bills out of her pocket and held them out

Finally, Lindsey peeked up at Toni with a small smile on her face and two pink cheeks “Thank you,it in a tight fist as though soht try to snatch it from her at any point Would they? Was that this poor child’s reality? Clinging to the lifeline of five dollars?

Whatever the reality of her situation, Lindsey seeh each day Hopefully, Toni would be able to break through the girl’s wary exterior soon and provide more help than a few hot meals and a couple dollar bills If she had a family in need of assistance, Toni would most likely move heaven and earth to provide it If it turned out Lindsey was a runaell, Toni would probably let the girl move into the diner

“Will we see you again tomorrow?”

Back to focusing on the floor, Lindsey nodded